Sectional block toy



Dec. 19, 1961 s. H. ZEVE SEC'IIONAL BLOCK TOY Filed Sept. 19, 1958 5 R. 06H 0 N mfi m v 1W m A. H y M w. m 3 w M M F J Tr k United States Patent 3,013,800 SECTIONAL BLOCK TOY Solly H. Zeve, 246 Crestwood Ave., Bulfalo, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Irwin A. Ginsberg, Buffalo, NY. Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 762,140

11 Claims. (Cl. 273-456) This invention relates to toys and particularly to a'toy by means of which a child can construct a figure by properly assembling a set of blocks or similar elements.

According to the present invention a series of blocklike elements are assembledin a vertically extending series on a central support means. Such support means may be in the form of a pair of spaced parallel dowels or bylindrical members of different diameters, whereby the support means is unsymmetrical and the block-like members can be assembled thereon in only one position, considered circumferentially. Furthermore, the block-like elements, or at least some of them, are formed with oblique upper or lower surfaces or both, so that, if a block is assembled upside down on the support means, that fact will be readily apparent due to the fact that such block will not fit down against the block below or the base of the toy, as the case may be.

The toy of the present invention is helpful and instructive to young children to the extent that it teaches them to use a certain degree of thought and ingenuity in choosing the several blocks for assembly on the support means in the proper order and in assembling the blocks in such manner that each block seats flat against an underlying block. The blocks are arranged and proportioned to produce a solid figure of one kind or another when all of the blocks of the set or series are properly assembled.

A single embodiment of the toy of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the following specification but it is to be understood that such embodiment is set forth by way of example only and that certain mechanical modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, various figures may be represented by sets of assembled blocks and the figures themselves and the detailed arrangement of the blocks may take many forms, both for the sake of variety and to produce toys of varying complexity to suit children of various age groups and mental abilities.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one form of the toy of the present invention in fully assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the toy taken on approximately the line III-III of FIG. 2.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings and the numeral designates a base member having a pair of vertical posts 11 and 12 extending upwardly therefrom, the posts 10 and 11 being fixed securely to the base 10 as by insertion in tight fitting holes in the base 10. The posts 10 and 11 are preferably glued into the holes in the base 10 to insure them against separation therefrom.

In the present instance the posts 11 and 12 may simply comprise dowel members of different diameters as clearly indicated in FIG. 3. Of course the base and the post or support means may be made in other ways and of other materials but the present form thereof is dictated in part with a view to simple and economical manufacture thereof from wood.

In addition to the base and support means the toy illustrated in the accompanying drawing includes a series of blocks in the form of truncated cylinders, the blocks being designated, reading from bottom to top of FIGS. 1 and 2, by the numerals IE/through 18. In the-particular instance illustrated herein the assembled blocks cooperate to make up a standing figure wherein the block represents legs'and feet, the blocks 14' and 15 make up a torso, the block 16 forms the neck of the figure, the block 17 forms, the head, and the block 18 forms a hat.

In each instance the blocks of the illustrated embodiment consist of ordinary cylindrical pieces of wood or other material so that'manufacture of'the toy of the present invention can be carried on entirely without special machinery and at low cost. In some instances the end faces of the blocks are square with their respective axes and in some instances such end faces'are oblique, as will presently appear. In any event each block rests fiat downagainst the underlying block, when properly assembled, or flat down on the base '10 in the case of the bottom block .13. r j 1 Pairs of holes are drilled through-each of the blocks 13 through 17 and similar blind holes are drilled into the bottom surface of'the top block 18. These holes are parallel, spaced the same as the posts or dowels 1 1-and 12, and of such diameter as to permit them to slip freely over the posts 11 and 12, the clearance the'reb'etwee'n being indicated in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the directions of the holes in the several blocks 13 through 18 is such that, when properly assembled over the posts, the blocks abut each other flatwise as mentioned above and as clearly shown in FIG. 2. k

In the present instance the block endface arrangement is as follows, although many variations in' this phase of the construction may be indulged in within the scope of the teachings of the present invention. 'Ihe'bottom block 13 has a' square lower face and an oblique upper face. The next block 14 has a squarelower face and an oblique upper face and the next block 15 has an oblique lower face at'the same angle as the upper face of block 14 but opposite thereto. The upper face of block 15 is square but of course this block is disposed with its axis at an angle because of its oblique lower face. The next block 16 has its lower face obliquely cut at the same angle as the lower face of the block 16, whereby the axis of block 16 extends vertically.

The next block 17 has two square ends in the present arrangement and the top block 18 has an oblique lower face whereby its axis inclines forwardly, the top of the uppermost block 18 being square in the present instance.

It will be noted that only two different diameters of wood stock are required to form all of the blocks of the figure of the present embodiment of the invention andthat only simple saw-off operations are required tocomplete the blocks. Similar economies ofmanufacture ma be attained by pursuing the general principles of the present invention in connection with a wide varietyof other fig} ures' and other block arrangements.

The simulation of the figure of a person, an animahlo'r an object of one kind or another, may be enhancedby surface decoration, as in the illustrated instance; 'Because of the simple geometrical shapes involved such decoration may be applied by pasting suitably pripted sheets to the exposed surfaces, although the decoration may be applied directly to the block surfaces or in any other manner.

Iclaim: U a 1. In a sectional figure toy, a base member having non-symmetrical post means extending upwardly therefrom, a series of cylindrical blocks eachihavin g vertical openings therein for fitting over said post means whereby the blocks rest upon each other with the lowermost block resting on said base, at least some of said blocks having fiat non-parallel upper and lower faces whereby such blocks if inadvertently assembled on the post means upside down will not seat flat against subjacent blocks, said Patented Dec. 19., i

2 r 3 blocks. being. oiat leas t ,two.different diameters whereby they cooperate to simulate a figure.

2. In a sectional figure toy, a base member having non-symmetrical postpmeans extending upwardly therefrom, aseries, of blocks each having vertical openings therein ,for fitting over said post meanswhereby the blocks rest .upon each other with the lowermostbloclg resting onsaid, base, at least some of said bloclcshaving flat n-p allel pn ram low r. ace eby s blocks if inadvertently assembled on the post meansup- ,sidedown; will not seatfiat against ,subjacent; blocks, the sidewalls of. said blocks being of various sizes measured laterally whereby they cooperate to simulate a figure.. I

. 3 In ,a, section al figure toy, a base member haying non-symmetrical post means extending upwardly therefrom, a series of blocks each having vertieal openings therein for fitting oyer said post means whereby the bl ;ls 1fest up0 n each other with thelowennost block resting on said base, at least some of said blocks having listin s-p e pp rfi d l e a whet bys -.b. o s f, dy t asse b cd nth pa t e pside dpwn will not seat fiat against subjacent blocks. 4 Ina sectional figure toy, abase member having a ,pairpfcylindrieal posts of, different diameters extend- .ing upwardly therefrom, a series of blocks each having a, pair ofspaced yertical openings therein for fitting over s id pgs mea s wh re h la ks st 1 12 9 s sh oth ,with the lowermost block resting on said base, at least some ofsaid blocks having fiat non-parallel upper and lower faces whereby such blocks if inadvertently assembled on the post means upside down will not seat flat against subjacent blocks, the sidewalls of said blocks being of various sizes measured laterally whereby they cooperate to simulateafigure, y N e .5 InQa sectional figure toy, a base memberhaving "a pair, ,of cylindrical posts of, different diameters extending upwardly therefrom,.a series of cylindrical blocks each having a pairof. spaced vertical openings therein for fittingoyer said .Ypost meanswhereby the blocks rest eridwisie upon each other with the, lowermostbloclc resting on said base, at least some of said blocks havingfiat filonsp arallel end, faces whereby,such blocks if inadvvertently assembled on thepostmeans upside down will not seat fiat against subjacenpblocks, the,blocks o fi s aid seriesrbeingof at least two different diameters whereby they cpoperateto simulatea figure. 6.. 1'na sectional figure toy, a base member having non-symmetricalpost means extending upwardly therefrom, a series of blocks eachhaving vertical openings thereinrfor fitting over said post means whereby the blocks .rest upon each other with the lowermost block resting on said base, at least some of said blocks having ,flat non-parallel upper and lower faces whereby such ,blocks fit fiatwise against each other only when assembled on thepost means in predetermined order and position, the side walls ofsaid blocksbeingof various sizes measured laterally whereby they cooperate to simulate a figure. V

, .7. In a sectional figure toy, a base member having non-symmetrical post means extending upwardly therefrom, a series of blockseach having vertical openings therein for fitting'over said post means whereby the blocks rest upon each other with the lowermost block resting on said base at least some of said blocks having fiat non-parallel upper and lower faces whereby such blocks fit. flatwise against each other only when assembled on the post means in predetermined orderand position.

8. In a sectional figure toy,r-a; base member and relatively fixed non-symmetrical post means extending up- .wardly therefrom, a, series of blocks having flat .upper and lower surfaces and vertical openings extending through said surfaces for fitting over said post means whereby the blocks rest upon each other with the lowermost block resting on said base, each block lying fiatwise against the subjacent block when the blocks are assembled in predetermined vertical order on said post, certain of the abutting planes of said blocks extending obliquely with respect to the vertical extent of said openings where by the blocks can be assembled in flatwise abutting relatiqnship only inthe proper order and right side up onsaid post means,

9. Ina sectionalfigure toy, a base memberand relatively fixednon-symmetrical post means extendingupwardly therefrom, a series, of cylindrical blocks having fiat upperand lower surfaces and yertical openings. extending through said surfaces for fitting over said post .rheans whereby, the, blgcksrest uponeajch other. with the lowermost block ,resting on said base, said, blocks being of at least two different diameters and each block lying flatwise against the subjacentblock when the blocks are assembled in predetermined vertical order on said post, certain of the abutting planes of said blocks extending ghliquely with respect to the vertical extent of saidopeningswhereby the blocks can be assembled in flatwise abuttingrelationship only in the proper order and right side up on said post means. l t). In a sectional figure toy, a base member and relatively fixed non-symmetrical post means extending upwardly therefrom, said post means comprising a pair of spaeed cylindrical members of different diameters, a series of blocks having fiat upper and lower surfaces and pairs of vertical cylindrical openings extending through said surfaces for fitting over said post means whereby the blocks rest upon each other with the lowermost block resting on said base, eachblock lying fiatwise against the subiacent block when the blocks are assembled in predetermined vertical order on said post, certain of the abutting planes of said blocks extending obliquely with respect to the vertical extent of said openings whereby the blocks can be assembled in flatwise abutting relationship only in the proper order and right side up on said post means. p 11. In a sectional figure toy, a base member and relatively fixed rion-symmetrical post means extending upwardly therefrom, said post means comprising a pair of spaced cylindrical members of different diameters, a series of cylindrical bloclrs having fiat upper and lower surfaces and pairs of vertical cylindrical openings extending through said surfaces for fitting over said post means whereby the blocks rest upon each other with the lower- .rnostblock resting'on said base, said blocks being of at least two different diameters and each block lying fiatwisc against the subjacent block when the blocks are assembed in predetermined vertical order on said post, certain of. the abutting planes of said blocks extending obliquely with respect to the vertical extent of said openings whereby the blocks can be assembled in fiatwise abutting relationship only in the proper order and right side up on said post means.

R e ferenc es Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 604,708 Burton May 24, 1898 1,321,109 Lasares Nov. 11, 1919 1,345,052 Williams June 29, 1920 2,327,718 Kassler Aug. 24, 1943 2,542,252 Ickler Feb. 20, 1951 2,806,322 Ford Sept. 17, 1957 oth r '1' 

